Acts of the Holy Apostles, conceived 1a

The first book I wrote to you, Theophilus, about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day on which He ascended, having given commands by the Holy Spirit to the Apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also manifested Himself alive after His suffering, with many true proofs, appearing to them for forty days, and speaking of the Kingdom of God. And having gathered them together, he commanded them, "Do not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which you have heard from me: for John baptized with water, and you will be baptized with the Holy Ghost in a few days after this." Wherefore they came together and asked him, saying, Is it not at this time, O Lord, that thou dost restore the kingdom to Israel? And he said to them, It is not for you to know the times or seasons which the Father has set in his own power, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Acts 1:1–8

The Bright Resurrection of Christ

Acts of the Holy Apostles, conceived 1b

The first book, Theophilus, I composed of all that Jesus had done and taught from the beginning, until the day when he was lifted up, having given commands by the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen, to whom he also showed himself alive after his suffering, with many proofs, appearing to them forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God. And at the table, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father's promise, "of which you have heard from Me. For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Ghost after a few days." So they gathered together, and asked Him, "Lord, is it not at this time that Thou dost restore the kingdom to Israel?" And He said to them, "It is not for you to know the times and seasons which the Father has established by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." And having said this, while they were looking, He was lifted up, and a cloud hid Him from their eyes. And as their eyes were fixed on heaven at the time of His departure, behold, two men stood before them in white robes, and said, "Men of Galilee, why are you standing looking up to heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven." Then they returned to Jerusalem from a mountain called the Mount of Olives, which is located near Jerusalem at the distance of the Sabbath journey.

Acts 1:1–12

Ascension of the Lord

Acts of the Holy Apostles, conceived 2

In those days the Apostles returned to Jerusalem from a mountain called the Mount of Olives, which is located near Jerusalem, at a distance of the Sabbath journey. And when they came, they went up into the upper room, where they dwelt, Peter and James, John and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the brother of James. They all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with some of the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and with His brethren. And in those days Peter stood in the midst of the disciples, and said (and there was a congregation of about a hundred and twenty men): Men, brethren! It was necessary to fulfill what the Holy Spirit had prophesied in the Scriptures through the mouth of David concerning Judas, the former leader of those who took Jesus; he was numbered among us and received the lot of this ministry. Therefore it is necessary that one of those who were with us all the time that the Lord Jesus dwelt and dealt with us, from the baptism of John to the day on which He ascended from us, should be with us a witness of His resurrection. And they appointed two: Joseph, who was called Barsabbas, who was called Justus, and Matthias; And they prayed and said, O Lord, Knower of the Hearts of all, show one of these two, whom Thou hast chosen to receive the lot of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas fell away to go to his own place. And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered among the eleven apostles.

Acts 1:12–17; 21–26

Monday of Bright Week

Acts of the Holy Apostles, conceived 3

In those days, at the coming of the day of Pentecost, all the Apostles were with one accord together. And suddenly there was a noise from heaven, as if from a rushing strong wind, and filled all the house where they were. And there appeared to them cloven tongues, as of fire, and they rested on each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them to speak. And in Jerusalem there were Jews, pious men, of every nation under heaven. And when the noise was made, the people were gathered together, and they were dismayed, for every one heard them speaking in his own language. And they were all amazed and amazed, saying among themselves, "Are not all these who speak Galileans? How do we each hear our own dialect in which we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjacent to Cyrene, and those who came from Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, do we hear them speaking in our tongues about the great works of God?